Sens. Reed, Levin visiting Afghanistan, Pakistan

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin are in Afghanistan for a trip that will also take them to neighboring Pakistan to review security and political developments and their impact on America’s national security.

Spokesman Chip Unruh (UN’-roo) said Saturday that the Democratic lawmakers have met Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Gen. John Allen, the top military commander in the country and other officials.

This is Reed’s 14th trip to Afghanistan and 7th to Pakistan. The region is preparing for the drawdown of U.S. and international forces ahead of the planned transfer of security responsibility to the Afghan government in 2014.

Reed is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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The lawmakers will also meet with other foreign leaders, diplomats, American soldiers and civilians before returning next week.